Aftermath of Henri Mouhot's death: diaries and Angkor accounts reach the West

Background. Henri Mouhot, a French naturalist, died on 10 November 1861. His servant Phrai transported his journals and specimens to Bangkok, from where they were shipped to Europe. Mouhot had reached Angkor in January 1860, an area already charted. His posthumous publications, including 'Travels in the Central Parts of Indo-China', featured descriptions of Angkor Wat, which he compared to pyramids.

Publication and Reception. Mouhot's travel journals were published in 1863 and 1864. The English title 'Travels in the Central Parts of Indo-China' appeared in 1864 via the Royal Geographical Society. These accounts reached a wider audience in Europe, contributing to the perception of Angkor Wat, although Mouhot noted that Father Bouillevaux had visited the site earlier.

Legacy and Colonial Context. Mouhot's work was published posthumously. Some argued he was a tool for French expansionism, though he occasionally doubted the benefits of colonization. His accounts of Angkor, which he compared to pyramids, influenced European perceptions. The temple's depiction on the Cambodian flag began in 1863, reflecting its growing symbolic importance.

Burial and Memorial. Mouhot died of malarial fever in the jungles of Laos near Luang Prabang. Two servants buried him near a French mission in Naphan, by the banks of the Nam Khan river. His tomb is located just outside Ban Phanom, to the east of Luang Prabang.